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JustForToday said:
I have a hunch that pdoc doesn't want to rx a stimulant because of the eating disorder. Stimulants and laxatives are usually not prescribed for anyone with and ED, just as controlled substances are not usually prescribed for addicts. Strattera is, as far as I know, the only non-stimulant med for ADHD.

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<font color="green">True about the eating disorder, especially Anorexia. But... considering that her PDOC said that he "has too many patients on stimulants already," and also "I wouldn't have taken you as a new patient had I known you were ADHD" seem to indicate something else was the barrier to effectively treating his patient. I think it would be a case by case scenario to discuss with the prescribing physician, just as in those who have ADHD and also a Bipolar Disorder.

It is also known that the side effect of loss of appetite usually subsides, and can also be dealt with by eating before you take the medicine, or any other combination that works. Some people never get the possible side effect of loss of appetite, but even then it's usually not dramatic. I take a stimulant because it was the first medicine I tried (Dexedrine Extended Release Spansules) and it was very effective.

However, if I were to have tried Strattera first, and it was effective with either none or very few manageable side effects, I would have gone with that one too. It's only annoying that you have to have a blood test every few weeks to check sure it's not toxic, but if the benefit outweighs the minor annoyances, no one should count out a non-stimulant for ADHD treatment. In her case though, she said that Wellbutrin is contraindicated for people taking Strattera. I haven't researched that yet, but she's probably right as she read it from Medline herself. That in itself is enough of a red flag for me to say saianora! There are some realy good psychiatrists out there (granted, very few...), and it's too bad that persons like this are out there making the profession a disgrace. Ack. Just don't go to Student Health if your a college student. Fair warning. </font>